RACV Community Foundation 1

Grants Recipients 2019

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RACV Community Foundation 2

Anam Cara House GeelongNorlane Volunteer Recruitment and Training Program

$11,450Anam Cara House Geelong is establishing a satellite Day Hospice service in Norlane. This area has been identified as a lower socio-economic area with a high-level of social isolation. Clients of Anam Cara in Norlane find it difficult to access day palliative care which is located in the Geelong CBD due to transport disadvantage. The Foundation funding will be used to recruit and train volunteers to complete the Palliative Care Victoria Volunteer training program. On completion 60 volunteers will be certified and ready to support the expansion of the Norlane Day Hospice. The direct benefit in building volunteer capacity is that patients with a life limiting illness will have the opportunity to stay at home longer and also providing respite for their carers.

Australian Multicultural Community ServicesSenior Wisdom and the Mobile Information Hub (SWAMIH)

$147,000The SWAMIH project will provide a unique opportunity to engage culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) seniors with their community, share wisdom, and enhance intergenerational understanding. RACV’s funding will be used to develop and implement a program of ‘Park Bench’ conversations between seniors and community members including young people and students to enhance meaningful connections and minimise loneliness. Foundation funds will also resource a ‘Mobile Information Hub’ to provide CALD seniors with access to information on available services and other resources that are vital to their health, wellbeing and decision making. Through this SWAMIH project, AMCS will pair up and connect seniors and young people with the support of a volunteer network (resources, skills, companionship) to share their life lessons and skills. The program will aim to build long-lasting intergenerational connections to benefit participants and challenge ageism. This will lead to increased empowerment for seniors, enable informed decision making and improved access to services and supports in a timelier manner.

Cire Services Inc.Engaging Dads in the Upper Yarra

$18,808The Cire Services catchment area (Upper Yarra) is one of socio-economic disadvantage and related challenges including unemployment, isolation and mental health issues. Local services provide well for mothers as primary carers but not dads. Funding will be used to expand a father engagement initiative which has highlighted the need to provide greater support for dads. Dads that are primary carers interact socially much less than mums so through the establishment of a dad’s playgroup the focus will be to help shift stereotypes and promote gender equality. This program will benefit up to 60 dads over a 12-month period. There will be a series of activities delivered to dads such as counselling services, dad’s groups, playgroups, and social events.

Eastern Volunteer Resource CentreOnline Customer Transport Portal

$16,000Foundation funding will be used by the Eastern Volunteer Resource Centre to purchase an online consumer portal called ‘Route Match’ as well as delivery of training to staff to manage this system. This portal will assist in improving the efficiency and ease of booking trips that older people and those with a disability who are housebound, socially isolated and require transport to maintain social connections, do their shopping, go to the cemetery, visit loved ones in care, and attend health services and appointments.

Laverton Community Integrated ServicesCooking Up Success

$15,000Laverton Community Integrated Services provides social and educational services to their local community. Foundation funding will enable the delivery of the Cooking Up Success program. This program provides support for young people by providing a safe space where they can learn to research, shop and prepare multicultural, budget friendly, healthy meals and obtain their ‘Safe food Handling, RSA (for 18+)’ and barista training qualifications which will increase their chances of securing ongoing employment. The project will run for three terms during 2019 and will help up to 160 young people.

Little Dreamers AustraliaYoung Carer Mentoring and Education Program

$130,000Little Dreamers provides support to young carers who are one of the most at-risk and socially isolated groups of young people. Their caring roles have an impact on educational outcomes and maintaining vital social connections, wellbeing and quality of life. Foundation funding will be used to develop information booklets, support education opportunities and connect more young carers to mentoring and peer support. The Young Carer Mentoring and Education program empowers young carers, and builds their capacity to access people, places, information and services that are crucial to improving social connectedness and mental health. This includes providing one-to-one support using a carer needs assessment tool to determine the areas of support required and the facilitation of warm referrals with necessary services. Young carers are matched with mentors that they can build relationships with. All families accessing these services receive an individualised booklet with helpful fact sheets and activities, providing access to current health information and additional available services. Little Dreamers also facilitate a peer support group as well as The Dreamers Hub which is an online community created by young carers for young carers. Featuring forums; tips and tricks with articles on self-care, bulk billing and tax; inspirational content; upcoming community events and more, the platform is facilitated by Little Dreamers to provide comprehensive support for young carers.

2019 Grants Recipients.

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RACV Community Foundation 3

STREATSTREAT’s Ahead

$100,000In 2015, STREAT piloted a program with Fonda Mexican restaurants to support the transition of STREAT’s graduates into open employment. This program has had very strong results with a number of participating young people maintaining their employment. Following this successful pilot, STREAT is seeking to scale out the program to provide open employment opportunities to all STREAT graduates (up to 30 graduates year). The STREAT’s Ahead program will be developed using this funding to enable further scale and provide all graduates with an additional six months of transition support into their new job with up to 4 STREAT’s Ahead employee partners. Foundation funding will enable STREAT to employ a transition manager, capture data/research, develop professional development programs for both employee and employer, develop program resources, develop graduate alumni and jobs clubs.

Switchboard Victoria Scaling Out & About Project (SOAP)

$150,000Foundation funding will enable Switchboard to scale out their services to further assist vulnerable members of the community through the (SOAP) program. This program aims to support LGBTIQ+ Victorians aged 60+ who are socially isolated and/or living with disability by matching volunteers with participants to develop community connections and peer friendships through regular home visits and attending community events. Switchboard will employ a project coordinator who will oversee all elements of the program, including advertising; encouraging and processing referrals; supporting socially isolated seniors receiving visits; and all aspects of volunteer management including recruiting, training and supporting volunteers. The project coordinator will also design, implement, manage and evaluate regular events scheduled at safe and accessible locations (including regional areas) as part of the service. Switchboard is the only Victorian service that specifically targets the LGBTIQ+ community, providing direct support to participants and helping them to develop and sustain community connections.

Umbrella Dementia Cafes Establish Umbrella Dementia Cafes on the Mornington Peninsula

$24,200 Umbrella Dementia Cafés provide a safe and encouraging social environment for couples living with dementia, where people can meet others in a similar situation, share ideas, support one another, and take part in joyful café activities. Foundation funding will assist in the establishment of Umbrella Dementia Cafés on the Mornington Peninsula. The project will require the development of a volunteer led social group for couples living with dementia at home, with the goal to improve their quality of life and support networks. Local volunteers will be empowered to de-isolate, bring awareness and connect couples living with dementia with their local community.

The Wellington Centre Connections

$45,000 The Wellington Centre provides a safe and inclusive environment for people who are excluded from fully participating in society to meet, connect and address their health and wellbeing issues. The Wellington Centre delivers free chiropractic treatment, myotherapy, osteopathy, counselling, optometry, naturopathy, and Chinese medicine including acupuncture and massage treatments. Funding from the grant will be used to establish the ‘Connections’ project which will identify and reach out to lonely and socially excluded people in the Collingwood/Fitzroy area. The project will include the employment of a part time Inclusion Worker who will work both at the Centre and on an outreach basis to public housing tenants who feel isolated and excluded. The project will work to build people’s capacity to participate more fully in community life by addressing the underlying causes of poor physical and mental health as well as deep, persistent disadvantage and social exclusion. A strong focus will be given to increasing access and engagement with new arrivals, Indigenous Australians and public housing tenants who are socially and economically excluded.

Wellsprings for Women Creative Enterprising Women

$20,000 Wellsprings for Women is a women-only organisation that provides educational and social support to vulnerable and disadvantaged women. The aim is to build women’s skills and capacity to improve their social, economic and emotional state. Foundation funding will be used to set up the Step by Step program which is designed to help vulnerable and isolated migrant and refugee women to build confidence and know-how to utilize their existing skills either as a source to earn a modest and occasional income or to contribute to help others in the community. With the Community Foundation grant, Wellsprings will conduct a skills audit with migrant and refugee women currently in other Wellsprings programs. The purpose of the audit would be to list the skills the women are willing to use to either contribute on voluntary basis or to use as a source of earning an income. At the conclusion of the audit, a group of 30 to 40 women will be selected to participate in the Step by Step program. The workshops will cover communication skills, community engagement skills, financial literacy and budgeting, marketing, branding, how to establish a micro-business or get involved in a social enterprise.

Whitelion Youth Agency Chatterbox Bus refurbishment

$20,000 Whitelion is a non-profit organisation delivering programs to improve the social and economic capabilities of some of Australia’s most high-risk young people. The Chatterbox Bus is a mobile outreach service that provides critical information, support and resources to youth that are homeless. Foundation funding will upgrade the interior of the Chatterbox Bus by replacing cabinetry, upgrading electrical works, restoring air conditioning, re-upholstering and replacing computers (used by young people to access the internet to make professional appointments, secure places to stay and contact family). The bus needs significant works to be undertaken to increase the number of young people it assists and improve access to food, warmth and vital information and advice to help them reconnect with family or professionals who can address their health and shelter needs.

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RACV Community Foundation 4

YMCA of Ballarat Youth ServicesRecranked in Schools

$37,200 Recranked in Schools is an 8-week program that targets young people aged 10 years+ who are at risk of disengagement and absenteeism. Foundation funding will enable the YMCA to deliver and evaluate its Recranked in Schools program to ten disadvantaged schools in the Western Region which will benefit up to 100 young people. In each school, up to ten students will participate in the program. Students are provided with a bike in need of repair and they work intensively with YMCA facilitators to rebuild this bike. They develop mechanical skills, literacy and numeracy skills, cycling skills, leadership, teamwork and communication skills, as well as meaningful social connections with each other and with the facilitators. Each participant leaves the program with a bike and safety equipment, so they can cycle. This enables and empowers young people with their own form of transport, so they can access employment, activities and places they want and need to go.

Youth Off The Streets Wyndham Youth Resource Booster

$16,550 Youth Off The Streets (YOTS) provides support to young people (aged 12-25) facing homelessness, substance dependency, abuse and other issues. Every year, they help over 3,000 vulnerable youth (with a particular focus on Sudanese and African youth) in turning around their lives. YOTS has been operating in Wyndham for just 1 year. Foundation funding will be used to buy equipment for the youth drop in centre, this includes couches, table tennis and music equipment. By providing these resources YOTS will create a warm and welcoming environment for young people to connect one another and the YOTS staff.

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